Game apparatus with ball dropping means and rotating target



p 28, 1965 c. KOSTKA 3,208,751

GAME APPARATUS WITH BALL DROPPING MEANS AND ROTATING TARGET Filed March 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR.

CHARLES KOSTKA ATTORNEY.

P 1965 c. KOSTKA 3,208,751

GAME APPARATUS WI H BALL DROPPING MEANS AND ROTATING TARGET Filed March 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES KOSTKA ATTORNEY.

United States Patent GAME APPARATUS WITH BALL DROPPING MEANS AND ROTATING TARGET Charles Kostka, 2235 Quimby Ave., Bronx, N.Y. Filed Mar. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 262,926 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) This invention relates to the are of game devices and particularly concerns a game of skill in which playing balls are selectively discharged upon a rotating platform carrying ball receiving cups.

According to the invention, there is provided a game device in which a platform or table is motor driven and rotates continuously. A plurality of manually operable chutes are radially disposed over the table for selectively discharging playing balls from the chutes into numbered cups carried by the table. The cups are provided with various means for releasing the balls caught therein.

It is a principal object to provide a game of skill foramusement and entertainment of players and spectators, in which playing balls are controllably discharged by the players into selected cups carried by a continuously rotating table.

Another object is to provide a game of the character described wherein a plurality of stationary radial arms over the table have chutes for discharging playing balls into the cups.

A further object is to provide a game as described wherein the cups are provided with means to facilitate removal of balls caught in the cups.

For further comprehension of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a game device embodying the invention, parts being shown broken away,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View partially in section of the game device of FIG. 1 with parts being broken away,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an arm, chute and playing balls shown partially in section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 33 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3 showing the parts in ball discharging position,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3, showing the parts in central vertical section,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a collective fragmentary central, sectional view similar to FIG. 5 and further showing in section part of the rotatable table and a ball-receiving cup, the chute being shown open,

FIG. 8 is a collective fragmentary illustrative sectional view similar to a part of FIG. 7, showing a ball being discharged from a cup,

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of another ball receiving cup shown provided with a ball retaining gate,

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of part of another table and ball-receiving cup with means for removing a ball from the cup,

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken generally on line 1111 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view on a reduced scale, parts being broken away, of another game device according to the invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-8 and 11, there is shown the game device 20 including a circular flat table 22 provided with holes 24 circumferentially spaced around the table near a peripheral rim 25. Secured in each of holes 24 is a cylindrical cup 26 having a flanged cup bottom 28 frictionally fitted thereon. The inner or upper side of each of the cup bottoms may be marked with a number 30 and corresponding numbers 30 may be marked on the table between radial lines 32. The lines 32 divide the upper surface of the table into a plurality of sectors or divi- .sions 33 with one cup in each sector. Each cup is open at the top and is axially vertical. All cups are spaced equal distances from the center of the horizontal table 22.

The circular table 22 is mounted on a rotatable bearing 36 which has a horizontal flange portion 38 riding on ball bearings 40 set in a stationary bearing race 42. The bearing race 42 is part of a cylindrical post 44 secured to a horizontal base plate 46. A cylindrical sleeve pulley 48 depends from the underside of the table 22 concentric with the ball bearing race 42. On pulley 48 is entrained an endless drive belt 49 engaged on drive pulley 50 carried by shaft 52 of a speed reducer 53 driven by motor 54. The motor is electrically energized through a power cable 55 to drive the belt and rotate the table continuously in a horizontal plane. The motor is mounted on the base plate 46, FIG. 2. Switch 57 turns the motor on and 011.

A central stationary post 60 extends axially through the table 22. The post is supported on base plate 46. Secured to the post is a plate 61 which has two outwardly extending arms 62. These arms 62 are inclined somewhat downwardly from the post 60 and extend radially above table 22. Two vertical walls 64 run along opposite lateral edges of each arm to define a channel on chute with arm 62. Each of the walls 64 has an upwardly extending finger 66. These fingers oppose each other and serve to support a crank 68. One end of the crank carries a handle 70. The other end 71 of the crank it engaged with a tension spring 72 secured to eyelet 73 on a wall 64, FIG. 3. The tension spring 72 normally biases the handle to an upwardly extending position and the crank end 71 against the stop pin 74 as shown best in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6. The stop pin 74 stops crank end 71 to hold the handle 70 upwardly under tension of spring 72.

On the crank 68 is secured a bar 75 carrying a depending gate 76. This gate 76 can be pivoted upwardly and outwardly to clear a hole 78 near the end of the radiallyextending downwardly inclined arm 62. The gate 76 normally blocks the hole 78 as best shown in FIG. 5 so that playing balls B on the channel or chute defined by arm 62 and walls 64 are retained in a line in playing position. If the handle 70 is moved or flipped clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 7, the gate 76 will permit the first ball to fall through hole 78, and the gate will engage the next ball B at the bottom of the line of balls as the player eases his hold on handle 70. The handle can be pressed down on the balls to prevent them from all rolling down the channel or chute at this instant, as clearly shown in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 7, it is seen that one ball B' has been released and is falling through hole 78 while previously released ball B" is already caught in a cup 26. The remaining balls B are held by handle 70 and the first one of the balls on the inclined arm 62 will be engaged by gate 76 upon release of the handle.

A rectangular tray 80 is mounted on a stationary sleeve 81 through which passes post 60. Vertical partitions 82 divide the tray into two half-sections which are used by the respective players for storing playing balls PB. A knob 83 is held by a screw 84 secured in the top of post 60. This knob engages the center portion of plate 61 which has a rectangular hole 63 engaged on a tenon or dowel 67 at the top of post 60.

To play the game, each player will have a predetermined number of balls B of one color which he will place on his chute. The motor will be turned on by switch 57 and will rotate the table 22 and cups 26. Each player in turn will try to operate his handle 70 and gate 76 so as to drop leading ball B into a selected numbered 3 cup, preferably a high numbered one. When the players have released all of the balls B, the player who scores the highest number of points will be the winner of the game. The player can be awarded extra points if a ball drops into a preselected numbered cup and can be penalized by deduction of earned points if he fails to drop a ball into a preselected numbered cup. The rim 25 will retain :on the table balls which fail to drop into any cup.

Other ways of scoring the game will readily occur to players of the game. With practice skill will be acquired to drop balls B into preselected cups with greater frequency. To remove balls B from the cups, bottom cups 28 can be taken off. If desired, the bottom cup 28 can be omitted and the balls B can be permitted to drop directly into the players hand H as illustrated in FIG. 8, after being released by gate 76.

FIG. 9 shows cup 26 provided with a swing gate member 85 pivotally mounted on an ear 86 secured to the open bottom 'of the cup. The gate member holds ball B in the cup in the solid line position of the gate. In the dotted line position of FIG. 9, the cup is cleared to release ball B. A notch 87 in the free end of gate member 85 engages a stop pin 88 at the underside of table 22.

In FIG. 10, cup 26" is shown mounted on the top of table 22. The cup is closed at the bottom by table 22. Lateral holes or slots 90 are formed in the sides of the cylindrical cup. A ball B which drops into the cup can be removed by a rod tool 92 having a peg 94 at its end for prying up the ball. The cup is shallow so that the rod can lift the ball sufiiciently to permit the ball to be grasped. A plurality of such cups 26" can be provided on circular table 22 near cylindrical rim 25.

In FIG. 12 is shown another game device 20w which is similar to device 20 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. Game device 20: has a plate 61' provided with four radial arms 62 provided with vertical Walls 64 and defining downwardly inclined channels or chutes spaced 90 apart. At the opening in the outer end of each chute is a gate 76 operated by a handle 70 which is upwardly biased by spring 72. Motor 54 can be powered by a local battery instead of by an external power supply in both game devices 20 and 20a.

The game device 20a can be played by four players simultaneously. Game device 20 can be played by two players simultaneously. In playing the game the players can if desired drop or release the balls B simultaneously and need not take turns. This will increase the speed of play and increase interest since the players can vie with each other to drop a ball into a particular numbered cup passing beneath their chutes. The motor 54 can be provided with an adjustable speed reducer to vary the speed at which the cups revolve past the chutes. The several parts of the game device can be made of wood, metal or plastic. The device can be fabricated of inexpensive materials at low cost. It will provide entertainment and amusement to players of all ages.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A game device comprising a horizontal base, a post extending upwardly from said base, bearing means around the post disposed between opposite ends of the post, a horizontal circular table rotatably disposed on said bearing means and having a central aperture, said post extending axially through said aperture in the table, a stationary tray horizontally secured to the post above said table for supporting playing balls, a plate secured near the upper end of the post above said tray, said plate having a central hole, the top end of the post being shaped like a tenon and seated in said hole, a knob fastened to the tenon, over the hole, and forming an extension of the post, a plurality of arms with upstanding wide walls, said arms and walls constituting channel shaped chutes for supporting and guiding playing balls thereon, said chutes being horizontally spaced apart with each chute extending outwardly and downwardly from said plate radially of said table, a multiplicity of cups carried by the table, said cups being circumferentially spaced around the periphery of the table and having open upper ends located above the table, said chutes each having an opening at its outer end directly over the cups for passing said playing balls into the cups, a crank supported on the walls of each chute, a depending gate supported by said crank over the opening in the chute, a tension spring engaging one end of the crank, a handle secured to the other end of the crank for actuating the same, said gate adapted to controllably release playing balls from the chute, and motor means operatively connected to the table for continuously rotating the table and cups while players operate the gates of the respective chutes to discharge playing balls into the cups.

2. A game device as defined in claim 1, each of the cups having at least one lateral hole to admit a rod for prying out of the cups balls discharged into the cups.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,286,151 6/42 Miller 273-95 2,298,951 10/42 Lohr et al 273-95 2,657,930 11/53 Reus 273-95 3,083,019 3/63 Giuliano 273-101 3,103,362 9/63 Elofson 273-1052 X FOREIGN PATENTS 920,846 1/ 47 France.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GAME DEVICE COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL BASE, A POST EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE, BEARING MEANS AROUND THE POST DISPOSED BETWEEN OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE POST, A HORIZONTAL CIRCULAR TABLE ROTATABLY DISPOSED ON SAID BEARING MEANS AND HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE, SAID POST EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH SAID APERTURE IN THE TABLE, A STATIONARY TRAY HORIZONTALLY SECURED TO THE POST ABOVE SAID TABLE FOR SUPPORTING PLAYING BALLS, A PLATE SECURED NEAR THE UPPER END OF THE POST ABOVE SAID TRAY, SAID PLATE HAVING A CENTRAL HOLE, THE TOP END OF THE POST BEING SHAPED LIKE A TENON AND SEATED IN SAID HOLE, A KNOB FASTENED TO THE TENON, OVER THE HOLE, AND FORMING AN EXTENSION OF THE POST, A PLURALITY OF ARMS WITH UPSTANDING WIDE WALLS, SAID ARMS AND WALLS CONSTITUTING CHANNEL SHAPED CHUTES FOR SUPPORTING AND GUIDING PLAYING BALLS THEREON, SAID CHUTES BEING HORIZONTALLY SPACED APART WITH EACH CHUTE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID PLATE RADIALLY OF SAID TABLE, A MULTIPLICITY OF CUPS CARRIED BY THE TABLE, SAID CUPS BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE TABLE AND HAVING OPEN UPPER ENDS LOCATED ABOVE THE TABLE, SAID CHUTES EACH HAVING AN OPENING AT ITS OUTER END DIRECTLY OVER THE CUPS FOR PASSING SAID PLAYING BALLS INTO THE CUPS, A CRANK SUPPORTED ON THE WALLS OF EACH CHUTE, A DEPENDING GATE SUPPORTED BY SAID CRANK OVER THE OPENING IN THE CHUTE, A TENSION SPRING ENGAGING ONE END OF THE CRANK, A HANDLE SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF THE CRANK FOR ACTUATING THE SAME, SAID GATE ADAPTED TO CONTROLLABLY RELEASE PLAYING BALLS FROM THE CHUTE, AND MOTOR MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE TABLE FOR CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING THE TABLE AND CUPS WHILE PLAYERS OPERATE THE GATES OF THE RESPECTIVE CHUTES TO DISCHARGE PLAYING BALLS INTO THE CUPS. 